Blue solace complete ser.., p.13
Blue Solace: Complete Series Boxset, page 13
“He does seem to like ten feet now. I’ve never seen him bigger, though, so you shouldn’t worry too much.” Leti leaned down and rubbed the dragon’s belly. “He’s my big baby boy. Aren’t you? Aren’t you pretty boy?”
Lilah watched, disgusted. “The llama is quite nice, but this is just, no, I can’t.”
“Fine, I’ll take him with me, even though this is his favorite nap time,” Leti said, watching her for signs of sympathy or guilt.
“He can nap in the Bridge.” No guilt or sympathy at all.
Leti laughed and dug his phasor out of the table next to the bed. “Come on, Princess. Lilah doesn’t love you like I do.”
“There are a few Concord mercs milling around the entrance to the spaceport, Captain,” Ava said. “They know we’re here or they’d all be at the brothels, casinos, or bars.”
“Well, there’s a group here at the brothel,” Morgan said. “Sebastian said there were a few at the bar too, right?”
“Yes,” Hack replied, frustrated. “He said he noticed them at every bar he could check in the lower city.”
“They’re spread out everywhere, aren’t they?” Ava’s voice was strained. “How are we going to do this?”
“Fast is our only hope,” Hack said. “Nettle, Beck, and Juniper are going to be as obvious as they can. While they’re in the spaceport, they’re safe. We’ll sneak out around them, try to stay concealed, but we focus on fast.”
“We’re heading to the entrance now, Captain,” Beck said through the comm. “We’ll made a big deal of loading shit up. Give us twenty minutes.”
The spaceport was huge, miles and miles long. Hack, Morrick, and Finn sat low in the speeder, idling a few docks down from their own. Twenty minutes later, they started toward the entrance.
Hack couldn’t help but chuckle as he passed Beck, who was yelling at the man delivering his supplies. The little man yelled right back, not at all afraid of the huge Grell. Nettle tossed supplies, in apparent disgust, joining in the spectacle, while Juniper steadily loaded everything. They were definitely drawing the attention of the mercs at the entrance, though the spaceport guards kept them from coming too close.
Hack drove by, hidden behind a large crate carrier. Once they hit the streets, he sped up, moving as fast as possible in the crowded city. Selene’s vehicle followed at a distance, pulling over at the brothel.
“Streets are clear to the bar, Captain,” Morgan said.
“Sebastian is waiting for you at the corner of his street,” Ava said. “It’s as far as he’s legally allowed to go.”
“You up for smoothing over the ruffled feathers when we take him with us,” Hack asked.
“It may cost us some credits, but I’ll take care of it, Captain,” Ava replied.
Hack stopped at a corner and Morrick opened his door. “Come on, Sebastian.” A young, human hybrid jumped into the back, next to the scientist.
“You’re sure it’s okay to come with?” Sebastian quickly handed over a bag, eager to be rid of the responsibility of carrying the element.
“We’ll take care of it,” Hack said, turning around and racing back toward the brothel.
“Captain, we have a problem,” Ava said. “Over a hundred Concord mercenaries are gathered right outside the entrance to the spaceport. Guards don’t look happy, but as long as they aren’t inside the entrance, they won’t touch them.”
“Alternate entrances?”
“No sir,” she said.
“We also have about thirty coming out of the brothel,” Morgan said. “Fuck, they’ve seen us, Captain.”
“We’re almost there, Morgan. Load up and start back to the spaceport. We’ll drive through them. Beck, status?”
“Loaded up, sir. Nettle is headed back to the ship with the supplies. Juniper and I are at the entrance. It’s not going to be easy, Captain. They have a couple of pulse cannons.”
“My goodness, they’re not even attempting to hide their intentions,” Ava said. “I’m just inside the spaceport now, Captain. I have my rifle and a good perch.”
“How’d you get through?” Beck sounded baffled.
“No one ever looks up,” she said.
“Oh Captain, my Captain,” Beck said, voice strangely happy. “We have some friends that want to play too.”
“Hey there, Will,” a familiar voice came through the comm. “Dad told me you might need some help. Green Solace and Yellow Solace are here. Crews are gathering up front. Get your ass here so I can meet my big brother’s mate. Man’s got to be insane.”
“Cas,” Hack said, laughing. “Great timing, little brother.”
“We’re almost there,” Morgan said. “Oh fuck, the pulse cannon. Abandon fucking ship!”
Hack could see the explosion from a block away. “Morgan, status? Morgan?”
“They jumped out of the speeder in time, Captain,” Ava said. Hack could hear weapons firing through her comm. “This fight isn’t going to be pleasant.”
“Two minutes out.”
“You’ll have to jump too,” she said. “They’re out for blood. I think they’ll just try to pick the element out of the rubble.”
“On it. Everyone, activate your shields. Finn, you need to get Morrick and Sebastian to the spaceport. Be prepared to jump in one minute.”
“Captain,” Morrick said, handing a bag over the seat. “Take the element, just in case. It’s better that they don’t get me and the artifact.”
“They won’t get either,” Sebastian said, pulling out a phasor. “I’m not the best shot, but I’ll do my best, Dr. Morrick. Nina would expect it.”
As soon as the speeder reached the spaceport, a large pulse was fired toward them. They opened the doors, jumping right before the speeder exploded in a fiery blast. Hack landed hard, shrapnel sinking into his face and arms. He got to his feet, firing his phasor and calling his fire to him. Mercenary after mercenary fell before him, but there were too many.
Finn and Sebastian had Morrick between them, pushing toward the ship. Hack felt despair overtaking him. There was a barrier of well over two hundred Concord mercenaries between them and the entrance. Selene’s group was huddled together at the half-way point, locked in with their backs to a building to the right.
Hack could see his brother and his crew at the entrance, firing from behind a makeshift barricade. The large blue Grell hybrid was easy to spot. Beck, Juniper, and the spaceport guards were at the other side of the entrance, firing from behind their own barricade. The captain of the Yellow Solace and her crew struggled to push out from the middle of the entrance.
Ava sat atop the spaceport wall, attempting to clear a path for Finn and the other two men, but it wasn’t working. Even with the guards’ help at the entrance, there were too many of them.
Hack called his fire, eyes lighting up, burning brightly from within. At least Leti and the kids were safe.
“What’s happening, Dru,” Leti asked, heart in his throat as he listened to the noise of the battle through the comm.
“Fuck, this isn’t good, Leti. There are a shit ton of Concord at the entrance. The spaceport guards, The Yellow Solace, and The Green Solace have thrown in with us, but that’s still over two hundred to fifty, with more Concord still arriving.”
The doors to the bridge opened and Lilah and five of the adult survivors ran in, two men and three women. “Lilah said you might need help,” one of the men said. “We don’t know what’s going on, but we know those are the fuckers that had us. Let us help.”
“Dru? We have to go.” Leti was already headed for the door, Princess on his heels.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Dru opened a cabinet and started tossing weapons to the five survivors. “You two, you’re too injured to go into battle, so you stay here at the ship and guard it. It will be locked up, but if it opens and it’s not us, it’s up to you to stop them, got it?” The two women both nodded, determined and fearless.
“Lilah, who’s with the kids?” Leti handed her two phasors. He looked to the side, movement grabbing his attention. Princess was getting bigger. He looked to be twelve feet, now.
“We put all the children who can move in your quarters. Two of the older children are watching them. Two more of the older ones are in the Med-Bay, doing what they can.”
“You need to go there too. Keep an eye on the injured,” Dru said. “Plus, you’re pregnant, lady. The battlefield is no place to birth a baby.”
Lilah snorted and nodded in agreement. “You’re probably right. Plus that nasty dragon’s fifteen feet now. You said he never went over ten.” She split to go to the Med-Bay, glaring accusingly at Leti as he and the others went to the Cargo Bay.
“I didn’t lie, I promise,” he said, following Dru around the corner. Leti kneeled down next to Princess. He was getting bigger and bigger. “What’s wrong, baby boy? I have to go save Will and the others. Do you need a nap?” Princess turned his head, looking him in the eyes, a deep, rough rumbling coming from his chest. “Oh, you want to help rescue Will, huh? I knew you liked him.”
“You two, position yourselves here,” Dru pointed. “Dannol, someone needs to stay to fly the ship. Pilots don’t leave the ship. Golden rule.”
“No, damn it,” Dannol said. “They need us and I won’t let them down.” The little Havenite looked fierce, his laid back demeanor gone.
“Umm, I can actually fly,” one of the survivors said. “I’m a beginner, but I could do in a pinch.”
Dru pointed to the door. “Get going. Be ready to lift off as soon as we get back, if we fucking get back.” The man left, running out the door.
“Gods, let’s do this I guess. Leti, if you die, I will fucking kill you,” Dru said and passed shield buttons, bags of grenades, and pulse cannons to everyone. Monty perched on her head, ready to join the battle.
“I have my lucky baby bunny sweater on and Selene gave me two lessons in shooting. I’ll be just fine.”
“If I thought you’d stay,” Dru sighed.
“I’m not leaving Will, not ever.”
“Yeah, yeah. True love and all that shit. Let’s go.”
Leti paused, looking at his twenty-five foot dragon. “Oh, my beautiful baby boy, are those wings?”
Chapter 14
Hack panted, pain spreading from the shot in his arm. He set another mercenary on fire. Hack’s group had managed to get to Selene’s, but that was it. More Concord mercs had shown up. All that could be said of the battle was that no one from his crew was dead. Yet. Morgan was unconscious and every last one of them had some kind of injury.
“Hack,” Cas said through the comm. “What are we going to do?”
Hack moved to position himself in front of a wounded Finn, firing at the incoming mercs. “You have to leave. Get the Blue Solace and get out of here. There’s more coming from up the street. Make sure Leti gets to the Station, alright? Make sure he gets to Mo. Take care of them, Cas.”
“Enough of that shit, Will,” Cas said, despair spilling into his words. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Neither are we.” The voice of the captain of the Yellow Solace was tired, but pissed off. Audre Shepard wasn’t one to leave a person behind, Hack knew that.
“Morrick,” Sebastian yelled.
Hack pushed the mercenary he was fighting back, Selene immediately taking his place in holding the line. He ran to the scientist’s side, sadness filling him at the sight. Morrick had been shot multiple times, and the light slowly drained from his eyes. “Wyatt,” he whispered, then his empty eyes stared up at the sky.
“Oh gods, why did he do that?” Sebastian knelt beside his body, cradling his head. “He saved me. I should’ve taken those shots. Gods, why?”
“Come on, Sebastian,” Hack said, pulling the young man up. “We need you in the here and now. Grieve later.”
“What the fuck,” Cas’s voice came through the comm. “Uh, Will you have incoming from above. It’s… I don’t know what the fuck it is.”
“It’s Princess Buttercup,” Draif said. “Don’t fire on him. He’s a good guy… I think.”
Hack looked up, jaw dropping at the twenty-five foot long, eight foot wide dragon flying over the Concord. His red scales gleamed, hard as metal as he flew low, blowing a wide wave of fire over the terrified enemy mercenaries, burning them alive. Their screams echoed against the walls of the city street.
The Charybdis mercenaries and spaceport guards whooped and cheered as they pressed the advantage, trying to keep the Concord mercenaries grouped together. Princess made two trips across the expanse of the Concord before Hack noticed the five figures on his back. They tossed grenades and fired pulse cannons into the enemy below.
“Damn it, Leti.” Hack howled and a burst of his fire ignited two Concord men running around in the chaos.
“It’s okay, Captain,” Draif said. “He’s wearing his lucky baby bunny sweater.”
“It’s Yusef the Terrible,” Selene said. “I did give him a few lessons in shooting, Captain.”
“I’m locking him in our rooms,” he roared.
“You’re mate is kinda badass, big brother,” Cas said, laughing. “He rode into battle on a dragon for you.”
“My pregnant mate.” Hack growled.
“Leti’s pregnant? Gods, how many kids will you all end up with?” Draif couldn’t keep the joy from his voice.
“Oh, pregnant mate flying on a dragon,” Audre said. “Now I see why the stick’s up your ass.”
The Concord mercenaries ran in chaotic circles. Hack and Audre’s crews cut them off from escape into the city while Cas’s crew and Beck and the guards held the line at the spaceport entrance. Within minutes, all the Concord were dead or dying.
Princess landed in the middle of the battlefield and began to chew on a dead Concord merc.
Leti and the others slid off his back. He ran around Princess and yelled at the dragon, hitting his large snout with the end of his pulse cannon. “No, Princess, no! Spit that out. We do not eat people, baby boy. Spit it out right now!”
Princess looked at Leti, mouth full, then opened his jaws, body parts spilling onto the ground. The dragon whined and butted his head against Leti. “Of course you aren’t in trouble my sweet baby boy. You just can’t eat people.” Leti rubbed his head and cooed softly.
The Charybdis mercenaries and the spaceport guards stared at Leti and Princess in disbelief and a little fear. Dru, Dannol, and the two survivors remained at Leti’s side, keeping an eye on the fallen mercenaries.
Draif and Hack reached Leti at the same time. Hack opened his mouth to start yelling but he suddenly had an armful of mate.
“Is everyone alright? We passed Nettle on the way out, he’s bringing the gurneys for the wounded. Where are you hurt, Will? Do you need immediate attention? Draif, what about you?”
Hack sighed and pressed his forehead to his mate’s. “Leti, everyone is wounded. This… this could’ve been our death. Why, gods, why didn’t you stay on the ship?”
Draif snorted. “Lucky baby bunny sweater seriously rocks, Leti. He started scratching Princess’s head and muttering compliments. “Who’s the best dragon in all the galaxies?”
“I made you a promise, Will. Do you remember? When you told me about your bio mother,” Leti asked.
“Leti…”
“I will never leave you behind. Not as long as there is a breath left in me. There is no life without you in it.” He kissed Hack, lips soft and sweet. “Now, is everyone alright?”
Draif hugged Leti from behind, standing on tip toes to put his head on Leti’s shoulder. “Leti, Morgan got bashed on the head and everyone’s injured, but… Dr. Morrick didn’t make it.”
“What? Verion? What do you mean?” Leti shoved out of their arms and began looking for the scientist. When he spotted him, he ran.
Sebastian knelt next to Morrick, crying. Leti fell to his side. “What happened?”
“My shield finally gave and he pushed me behind him, right before three people fired at me.” He sobbed. “His shield was already gone. Why did he do that? He’s a brilliant scientist and I’m just a shitty bartender in debt out my ass.”
Leti wrapped the man in his arms. “You’re Sebastian, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Verion felt really bad about not being able to save Nina. He really liked her and she died helping him.”
“He told me that, what does it matter?”
“I only knew him a few days, but I know that he was worried for your safety. He wanted to make up for Nina, to make sure the person she cared most for was safe. That’s the kind of man he was.”
“He was far more valuable than me.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Leti said, voice growing hard. “Life is precious no matter what. He chose to give his for you. Don’t drown in the what-if’s.”
Sebastian leaned his head on Leti’s shoulder. “You’re right. Sorry for my blubbering. Who are you anyway?”
Leti smiled softly, through his tears. “I’m the Captain’s mate. I’m guessing you’re our new crewmember, right? How do you feel about llamas?”
Hack watched as his mate comforted a stranger despite his own grief. Leti had known Morrick more within a few days than his colleagues likely had in twenty years. The two survivors stood behind the kneeling men, guarding Leti. Hack had a feeling his mate just gained two bodyguards which meant two more crew for him.
Cas threw an arm around Hack’s shoulders. “That is one damn amazing mate you have there, Will. You sure he’s yours and not mine? He deserves the better looking brother.”
Dru growled as she elbowed Cas in the gut. “That’s our Captain’s mate, asshole. Back off. He’s ours.”
“Dru, beautiful Dru,” Cas turned his flirty eyes on Hack’s lieutenant. He paused, puzzled by the sight of Monty perched on her head. “Who’s that lizard on your head? Does Lerais know you’ve been claimed by another?”
“Well he will when he realizes the damn thing sleeps on my pillow. I can’t get rid of him.” She reached up and rubbed the newt’s little head. “He’s growing on me, though.”
“Hack,” Audre said, long legs striding through the battlefield. “The spaceport guards said they will clean this up. We’re free to go.”
